A Primer of Ecological Aquaculture

Aquaculture is a global effort to balance human needs, health, ecosystems, animal welfare, and economic principles. It can provide a healthy food supply, but it relies heavily on clean water, a precious resource that is under intense pressure. This primer provides an overview of aquaculture, its concepts, opportunities, and challenges, with an emphasis on ecological considerations. It is accessible to a wide range of undergraduate majors and appeals to a general academic audience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Aquaculture serves as a poignant illustration of the ongoing global quest to achieve a harmonious equilibrium between the diverse and competing demands of a rapidly expanding global population, the well-being of human health, the vitality of ecosystems, the welfare of both wild and domesticated animals, and the economic principles of interconnected global economies. On the one hand, aquaculture presents a remarkable opportunity to supply us with a wholesome and nutritious food source, while simultaneously alleviating the strain on captive fisheries and mitigating the detrimental impact of fishing practices on marine habitats, overfishing, genetic manipulation of wild populations, and the wasteful disposal of bycatch. On the other hand, aquaculture is heavily reliant on the finite and increasingly scarce resource of clean water, which faces relentless pressure to fulfill multiple competing objectives.

This concise primer serves as an introductory guide for students, emphasizing the fundamental concepts, prospects, and complexities of aquaculture, with a particular focus on ecological considerations. It offers a critical evaluation of current aquaculture practices from a comprehensive and interdisciplinary standpoint, aiming to align the two primary and often conflicting goals of future aquaculture development: minimizing reliance on ecosystem services while maximizing productivity.

A Primer of Ecological Aquaculture offers a readily accessible and authoritative overview for a diverse range of undergraduate majors spanning biology, engineering, environmental policy, business, and management. It also resonates with a broader academic audience seeking a current understanding of the field.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 245 x 189 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198850236